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July 28, 2008

G107: Angels 7, Red Sox 5

Not much to say about this one, except that the game did not feel as close as the final score.

A two-RBI single from Manny Ramirez gave the Sox their only lead of the game in the fourth. Then Dice-K, who had retired eight batters in a row, walked Figgins to start the top of the sixth. Ten pitches later, the Angels had a 6-2 lead. Kotchman hit a two-run homer, Izturis doubled, Guerrero singled and Hunter blasted a three-run dong.

In the bottom of the sixth, Lowrie's ground-rule double to right knocked in Ortiz (LAA 7-3) and chased Weaver. Arredondo walked Varitek on four pitches, loading the bases with two outs for Ellsbury. Lyndon was the potential tying run, but he struck out.

With one out in the seventh, Youkils and Ortiz singled, but Manny grounded into an inning-ending double play. Ellsbury singled in Drew in the eighth and Manny hit a home run into the Monster Seats with two out in the ninth.

After a shaking beginning in relief of Matsuzaka, Masterson set down the last five batters he faced with ease. Hansen threw nine pitches (eight strikes) in the eighth, retiring the Angels in order.

Toronto beat Tampa 3-1 and Baltimore clubbed New York 13-4, so the top three spots in the East standings remain the same. The fourth-place Blue Jays are now only 7.5 GB.

It does kick ass. Last night's intentional walking of Drew to get to Tek (even though the C got a hit)should signal Francona that Varitek's days as a middle of the line-up guy are gone. Lowrie won't get walked to get to Tek, at least this season, and if they walk Drew to get to Lowrie, I'll take my chances,

When we first got digital cable, and had it on a smart-card instead of a cable box, whenever we'd put on a channel with more than one audio feed (i.e., SAP), an option window would come up to pick one. For about two weeks, the feed labeled "Spanish" was game audio with no commentary. It was amazing. Eventually they picked up on their mistake and fixed it.

I don't know if that's the same trade poll, but I saw one, on X-Bases I think, and the choices were "No, he's not worth it" (the no choice was first), and "yes, his bat's too valuable." There was no choice that said you like Manny. It seemed to come from the assumption of, "Okay, we all hate his wild hair and baggy clothes, but would you trade him or grit your teeth and keep him?"

The media is making me hate them more every minute. There seems to me that there's no problem, yet they're just pushing it and pushing it until there is one.

The longer the Rays stay up, the less chance the Yanks make the playoffs. We're gonna beat the Rays anyway, so I'm hoping they stick around. (But, if they don't, I'll be happy too because I hate them...)

Look at that lack of effort on that catch - Manny totally should've sprinted the 5 feet to grab it instead of walking...TRADE HIM NOW! I DON'T CARE IF WE GET GAGNE IN RETURN! ANYTHINGS BETTER THAN THAT!

I don't care...If I had the luxury of NESN on cable, I would most definitely be bitching about it, alongside you. But I get shitty Blue Jays, so any Red Sox baseball is good. It's like that hierarchy of needs theory. Once the basic need is fulfilled (Sox baseball), you move up to the next level (camera angle)

well i don't wanna be pretentious and assume people know stuff about me. If I just said they owe me for not being able to see games for 30 years, and then somebody asks why, I'd just have to explain it, so I try to keep it to one post. I don't enjoy typing the same thing every time, but I do it so people know what I'm talking about.

I'm watching ESPN. That Tek near dong looked so great. I could tell where it was going. On NESN it would've looked like a pop up that was going anywhere from second base to a hundred feet foul off first.

Why is it I'm getting it on both channels? How come sometimes it's a blackout but other times I get it on both? I thought I had it figured out, that if it's a regional ESPN game I get it on both, but that didn't work last time.

I'm watching ESPN. That Tek near dong looked so great. I could tell where it was going. On NESN it would've looked like a pop up that was going anywhere from second base to a hundred feet foul off first.

And you're serious, right? Not exaggerating?

I feel like you're watching some kind of fun-house mirror version, and we're just watching regular TV. I never see anything even remotely resembling that.

Well I'll try the example I always use: A ball hit right at you (straight toward the camera) is gonna be up the middle. On the old, it's closer to the shortstop's position. I mean, the two cameras are 20-30 feet off side-to-side, and 20 feet apart up-down, so the batted ball has to appear different from each angle.